Psalm 67 ~ God shall bless us

Psalm 67

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!


I walked past my husband, Edward, watching a television documentary. The narrator was saying, "As a nation, we wondered if this war would cost us our democracy, it was a costly war and seems to go on and on." I paused and asked my husband what year they were speaking of. The American War of 1812. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Each generation of this life with its struggles. Tonight I am feeling the peace God gives us. When we hope in Him and look up.

Psalm 71:14
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.


1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

On prayer, Jesus gave us a parable of unceasing prayer to the corrupt judge about unjust circumstances. Jesus was telling us we use our judgment and see lack of justice – the door for prayer is always open.


Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Luke 11:5-9
5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’

7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.


Just as Jesus’ power went out to the woman who reached out to touch the fringe of his garment, Jesus calls us to pray with expectation He hears, He heals, He loves.


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Ezekiel 1:1-14 ~ wherever the Spirit would go, they went

Ezekiel 1:1-14

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.

4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal [amber]. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies.

12 And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.


As I sit down to think about Ezekiel's vision of the angels surrounding the Most High God, it is a overwhelming to me. I know my minister has heard the voice of God on rare occasions. I know someone quite well who heard from the Lord only once. It was a very distressing time and this loved one cried out to God, saying. why I am experiencing these vast life-altering changes when I have tried to serve You so faithfully?

God replied to this loved one saying:

O Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
your burnt offerings are continually before me.
I will not accept a bull from your house
or goats from your folds.
For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
and all that moves in the field is mine.

“If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and its fullness are mine.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

But to the wicked God says:
“What right have you to recite my statutes
or take my covenant on your lips?
For you hate discipline,
and you cast my words behind you.
If you see a thief, you are pleased with him,
and you keep company with adulterers.

“You give your mouth free rein for evil,
and your tongue frames deceit.
You sit and speak against your brother;
you slander your own mother's son.
These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.

When this loved one came to tell me this voice of God had spoken in a quiet time of prayer and earnestly crying out. My comment was, surely, you have heard this incorrectly. You honor the Lord in your heart. I think you heard this wrong. The loved one's reply was, "No, I heard this and it was the voice of God."

It was within the next month we were to learn this is Psalm 50. We were both a little shaken to hear what was heard was an actual part of the Scriptures. How did this turn out? As the Lord said over the next few decades. This devote loved one has minimal interest in Lord unless it is about pleasing plans ahead told of by the Lord. Television Evangelists are the primary interest. A new and solid interest in liberal actions, things like abortion rights. I was asked recently if this person is going to Heaven. While I don't know, I don't think the Lord wastes time speaking to the condemned. It is, after all, redemption and forgiveness that keep the Lord busy. The loved one given Psalm 50 was also the recipient of a medically documented miracle by the laying on of hands.

When we ask expectantly in prayer for the Lord to show up.... are we just looking for blessings? I know I am guilty of this. Like Isaiah, I know I am a person of unclean lips compared to the Lord.

When I think of people experiencing the Lord in this life, I think of Elijah in the still small voice. A quiet time. I think of Isaiah and think of quiet. I think of Jesus looking for quiet times to pray. But the transfiguration was in a group of people and so was Paul's vision on the road to Damascus. Jesus and the people around Him, heard a voice or thunder. Interestingly, the words used in verse 4 of this passage are also used in modern Hebrew today to mean electricity.

Father God, help is to go where the Spirit would lead us. Thank You for the people who experience You in unique and powerful ways. Help us to remember 10 lepers were cleansed and one returned to give thanks. Help us to have grateful hearts for You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.


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2 Chronicles 6:27 ~ grant rain upon your land

2 Chronicles 6:27

27 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

My husband, Edward, had a first today. He had to consult http://ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireActivity/ before driving to see a client today.

You'd think with the video, the verse - we'd be seeing fire or smoke in the sky. No. Travel on nearby highway 105 and I-45 has been stopped in places. I've probably read too many historical novels about great fires, but decided it would be a good thing to ask for prayer for our area of Texas.

Good news - we have the first 40% chance of rain since January this week and the postman said it was sprinkling on him in the last neighborhood. When I asked for prayers via Scripture for Today Blogspot last time - we had 4 good showers. On FB one Church friend is praying for her sister who was evacuated. Another reports his suburb in Houston had evacuations. And ... it is only June.

Father God, We look for Your great mercy. Remember the welcome given to the Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Remember this Easter, the huge public worship of 2nd Baptist giving shoes and dancing for You. See the people in the large city and smaller towns asking You for Your help. We ask for the humidity over the Gulf of Texas to bring us soaking showers for at least then next 3 months. Speak the Word, Lord, we ask in the name of Jesus. Your will be done. Amen.


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